apt. N°23, ALPHA JET
Welcome to
ALPHA JET, apartment n°23 of the legendary
Bel Air residence, nestled in the peaceful hamlet of
Le Lavanchy in Montriond, just minutes from Lake Montriond and the slopes of Avoriaz.
More than a simple apartment, ALPHA JET is an immersion into an extraordinary chapter of alpine history — where architecture, cinema, skiing culture, and the artistic spirit of the 1960s and 70s still quietly echo through the mountains.
Originally built in the late 1870s by Mr. Burnoud, a Parisian who settled in Montriond with his wife, the property was first known as
Chalet Bel-Air. At the time, this elegant mountain house became a gathering place for local villagers, shepherds, and families who would meet here after long days spent working in the fields and alpine pastures.
But the true transformation of Bel Air came nearly a century later.
During the 1960s, the building was radically redesigned by renowned architect
René Faublée, also known for creating the iconic
Notre-Dame-des-Prisonniers chapel in Avoriaz. Inspired by the emerging currents of
Neo-Brutalism and modernist mountain architecture, he imagined a bold structure made of raw concrete, sharp geometric forms, and monumental volumes — an architectural language completely avant-garde for the Alps at the time.
Originally transformed into a holiday retreat for children from Paris’s 14th arrondissement, Bel Air quickly became known as the famous
“Chalet du XVIe”. Entire generations of children discovered snow, skiing, mountain life, and freedom for the very first time here during the magical winters of the late 60s and 70s.
And then came Avoriaz.
At the dawn of the 1970s, the nearby resort of Avoriaz became one of the most fascinating and unconventional destinations in Europe. Conceived as a futuristic ski resort suspended above the clouds, Avoriaz attracted architects, filmmakers, artists, actors, musicians, and international celebrities from around the world.
The legendary
Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival, created in 1973, transformed the mountains into a surreal cinematic playground every winter.
Snow-covered limousines climbed icy roads through pine forests while film directors, actors, and journalists arrived wrapped in enormous fur coats, oversized sunglasses, and après-ski glamour. At night, strange lights illuminated the snowy cliffs of Avoriaz while screenings of science-fiction and fantasy films continued until dawn.
It was an era where cinema and mountain culture collided in the most extraordinary way.
Stories still circulate locally about actors disappearing anonymously into village cafés after screenings, helicopters landing unexpectedly in the snow, and wild evenings stretching between Morzine, Avoriaz, and Montriond while storms covered the mountains outside.
The apartment itself takes its name from the cult film
Alpha Jet, one of the symbolic titles associated with that creative and slightly surreal cinematic period. Much like the atmosphere of the festival itself, the apartment blends retro-futuristic inspiration, warm textures, brutalist heritage, and elegant contemporary comfort.
Bel Air remains today one of the rare surviving witnesses of that unique era.
Its raw concrete façade may still surprise visitors at first glance, standing apart from the traditional wooden chalets of the village, yet this contrast is precisely what makes the building so fascinating. Behind this bold exterior lies an entirely renovated interior universe where mountain refinement meets artistic identity.
Designed as an intimate alpine cocoon for a couple, with or without a child,
ALPHA JET combines noble materials, soft lighting, custom furnishings, cinematic inspiration, and peaceful mountain surroundings to create a truly timeless retreat.
- Fully equipped kitchen: stovetop, oven, refrigerator, kettle, Nespresso coffee machine, washing machine, and all essentials for cooking at home
- Elegant bathroom: walk-in shower, sink, toilet
- Comfortable sleeping area: king-size bed (200x200 cm), custom-made headboard, Smart TV with Netflix, YouTube and live channels, plus a bunk bed in the same sleeping space
- Premium hotel-quality linen included: beds prepared before arrival and towels provided
- Exceptional location: only minutes from Lake Montriond, hiking trails, mountain bike routes, ski lifts, waterfalls, forests, and directly opposite the free shuttle stop serving Avoriaz and Morzine throughout summer and winter seasons
The free shuttle stopping directly outside the residence provides easy access to:
- Lake Montriond
- The Ardent waterfall
- The Ardent cable car and the Portes du Soleil ski area
- Avoriaz resort
- Morzine village center
A hidden mountain retreat suspended between brutalist architecture, cinematic history, alpine nostalgia, and contemporary luxury — where every stay becomes part of the legend of Bel Air itself.
